The National Junior College Athletic Association selected two Riverhawks women’s basketball players to All-Region 20 teams in March.

First-year guard Leila Townsend was one of five players in the region selected to the All-Region Division III First Team. Second-year forward Syrena Boone earned a spot on the All-Region Honorable Mention team. 

“It feels pretty good to know that [my] hard work and things that [I’ve] done over the summer and overtime have paid off,” Townsend, a transfer studies student, said. “And people are recognizing my abilities.”

The NJCAA selects the top players from community colleges in Maryland and Pennsylvania for the All-Region 20 teams. 

Boone said earning the award was “really rewarding for me, because any Region 20 award is obviously an honor. It just feels good.”

Women’s basketball head coach Lional Makell noted, “They work hard, they play hard, they do their studies in the classroom. I’m very happy overall with their performance.”

Boone, a business student, said Townsend deserved the All-Region 20 award because of her work ethic on the court. 

“She works extremely hard,” Boone said. “She puts in a lot of work and she has a great personality. She’s a great girl. So I’m really proud of her and her accomplishments. I see her put work in every day.”

Townsend averaged 12.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and two assists in 24 games that included the regular season and playoffs. Boone averaged 8.1 points and 8.7 rebounds in 15 games.

Townsend said she hopes to win another All-Region 20 award in her next season with the Riverhawks.

Even though Boone suffered an injury during the season, Makell said she was effective.

Makell said Boone “still provided us with that leadership and on court experience from playing last year.”